You are my friend. You are planning a wedding. And you ask for my advice on groom and groomsmen
attire.

Here’s what I say: Tell them to buy matching suits.

Tuxedos, of course, can make any man look like a million bucks. The trouble is, unless he’s
willing to spend almost that much to buy one of his own, his tux might be ill-fitting. And, when
the clock strikes midnight, Prince Charming will have to return it. There’s nothing to keep but a
distant memory.

Although suits might cost a bit more upfront, the groom and groomsmen will look sharper and have
something to show afterward for their money.

The trend is one I love.

For the record, I persuaded my husband to buy a suit for our wedding seven years ago, and
neither of us has regretted the decision. Also, this year, one of my two 17-year-old stepsons let
me help him buy a suit for the prom instead of renting a tux. We craftily purchased a three-piece
slim-fit suit and a tuxedo shirt, bow tie, suspenders, socks and shoes for $256 — only $56 more
than the cost of a rental tuxedo.

“It’s definitely something that we’re seeing (for weddings), which is a cool little look — very
easygoing,” said Christy Walsh, a stylist for Wardrobe Therapy consultants in Columbus.

Her tip? Allow each man to find a suit that best flatters his body type; just ensure that the
suits are the same brand and fabrication. And, if you go with only pants and vests, stick with
lighter colors such as tan and gray.

The trend of suits for weddings is catching fire, said Nate DeMars, who owns the men’s suiting
shop Pursuit at South Campus Gateway.

His shop — which specializes in less-expensive tailored, modern-fit suits — has outfitted about
15 wedding parties this spring.

“We haven’t put any marketing into it, nor did we expect to be doing it,” DeMars said.

He cites two reasons for the trend: Brides are inspired by Pinterest photos of groomsmen in
slim-fit suits, and guys find it a more logical use of money. Plus, he said, suits offer a
selection of lighter colors and fabrics that might work better for warm-weather events.

Pursuit sells suits by designers such as DKNY and Calvin Klein at two prices — $249 and $399 —
and offers a 15 percent discount for wedding parties purchasing six or more suits, shirts and
ties.